Prime Larry Holmes vs prime Rocky Marciano (15 rounds)

Hard to call.

Marciano by KO

Or Holmes by decision.


I'm leaning towards the latter.

 

Peter, sorry wasn't meaning to sound patronising (well was trying not to anyway) but by way of response : (and i have no axe to grind here - I'm just pointing out where stats and numbers and weights don't tell the whole story - simply put we're not playing Top Trumps its not a case of my fighters 230lbs so he trumps your guy at 190 etc)

but Ali got floored and almost out by 188lb Henry Cooper (exactly the same weight as Archie Moore for Marciano and I don't think anyone is going to confuse Henry Cooper with Archie in terms of ability or power

If memory serves me correct Sonny banks the first man to floor Ali was in the 180's also.

Randy Turpin was one of the hardest punching light heavies Britain ever had?

Who was Rocky carefully managed to avoid??

Otke is/was/will always be a joke?? What has that to do with anything?

Rocky was hurt by old light heavies?? Archie Moore? How many knockouts did he have again??? He probably had more fights at heavyweight than say Muhammad Ali did in his entire career - in fact he did because I checked previously on that out of interest.

I wouldn't say Rocky had 12-15 fights worth mentioning actually but then neither did say Ali either - if he did I'll gladly put you right on that :good

 

Why don't people think Marciano can't win a decision?

And which version do you prefer? The more calculated slugger or more attrition swarmer type?

 

I think that a Marciano decision is a fairly plausible scenario.

 

The attrition swarmer. The calculated slugger would lose a decision IMO. I think the attrition swarmer version of Marciano would beat Holmes in a close decision, as I said earlier.

 

Ben,

Do you think Rocky's suzy Q right hand can find it's way home on Holmes? Do you think Rocky can knock out Larry?

 

I am always cautious about predicting a KO of a fighter who was not stopped untill late in their career.

Since Larry took a bomb from Shavers I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I do think that Larry is going to get his chin checked by it however.

The scenario I see is a late knockdown of Holmes followed by a TKO.

 

Marciano was in a different league than anyone Holmes fought, the point I bring out is that Marciano's size would not be a handicap because Holmes was KO'd in the amateurs by men Rocky's size and shorter who were rhythm breakers. Holmes was lucky that he did not have to fight anyone with Rocky's overall attributes. I feel confident of a Marciano KO over Holmes IMO

 

No Larry had a developed jab at this time it what was what he was known for. It was a this point in time when he was sparring with Ali, etc and his losses to Wells and Bobick were at the end of his amateur career.

Holmes improved as a pro but was moved well and was one of the most connected Heavyweight Champions ever.

I see Larry having serious trouble with a high powered pressure fighter with great right hand power in the division. The difference with Marciano and Shavers is that Marciano was relentless, had two fisted power and great stamina and strong mentally.

This would be a great match and some competitive action but the outcome would be determined in a battle of attrition and a war of wills and the Suzie -Q

 

Its funny how these Newbies pop up with a strong opinion and an agenda. I bet if you checked the URL it would be a familiar poster with the same agenda

 

I think Holmes does what Walcott nearly did and boxes to a 15round decision. A Prime Holmes would have the better stamina and chin over Walcott to comeback from any Rocky momements......see what I did there?

 

Solid arguement. I can see that happening. PowerPuncher, do you see Rocky troubling Holmes at all? Do you see holmes having to earn his victory?

 

I don't think Holmes can take 15 rounds of pressure from Marciano. An exhausted Norton was bulling him around and knocking his mouthpiece out at the end of their fight....the 100 punch swarming Marciano from the end of the Charles I fight might take him out, hell the Norton from the Ali fights might have took him out.

 

see, although I am open to all arguments I agree strongly with this viewpoint. I see the late Pressure and the right-hand power taking its toll on Larry with a stoppage from 11 to 15 with Larry hitting the deck once or twice with a RSC

 

Ofcourse I think it'd be a tough fight. Holmes speed and jab see him take the early rounds. Rocky would work the body during this time and as the fight pregresses and Holmes slows Marciano starts to and land some serious leather, taking rounds and doing damage, he probably puts Holmes down at some point but I see Holmes fighting back strong in what would be a back and forth fight with Holmes early rounds in the bank sealing the decision